Secrets of Scarlett Hall Box Set: A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance Collection

by Jennifer Monroe

  From the first night after leaving her home, she had experienced a gamut of emotions and events that allowed her new ideas for her book. However, it was the love that she had for John that gave her the courage to finish her story. She was no longer a spectator of love, but rather a willing participant, and it allowed her intimate knowledge of what her characters endured and what they needed in order to continue.

  Tonight, they sat in the home of Connor Barnet, who had made a point of offering her and her family a special invitation as a way to apologize once again, although Hannah had told him on numerous occasions there was no need.

  She smiled. How could she have missed the fact the man had feelings for her? How could it ever have come to be that she had three men who had developed an affection for her? It was all very strange to a woman who had not wished to love any man!

  Her eyes fell on John, who stood speaking with two other men across the room. It did not escape her attention that other women had looked at him, as well, but that fact no longer caused her concern. The man he once was now was gone, and the smile he gave her in return did away with any doubt that might have risen in the past.

  Sighing, she took a sip of her wine as her gaze went to her sister, engaged in conversation with Connor. Laurence joined them, and soon the three were laughing.

  Hannah was so caught up in her thoughts that the movement beside her caused her to start.

  “Hannah,” the woman said, and it took a moment for Hannah to recognize her. “I am so happy to see you.”

  “Lady Ellen,” Hannah replied with a wide smile. “My apologies. Ellen, it is wonderful to see you again.”

  The woman wore her customary red dress, which emphasized her large bosom a little more than Hannah thought appropriate. However, if Ellen did not mind, who was Hannah to judge? “I’m sorry I did not return to the writing group,” she said. “I found myself pursuing a different dream altogether.” She could not help but smile as she looked over at John.

  “You were right to do so,” Ellen replied. “I was wrong in my advice.”

  “You meant no harm,” Hannah said. “And I know this.”

  Ellen took a step closer and lowered her voice. “The night you left, I stayed awake for hours thinking of how pure your heart was and how you saw the world with such innocence.”

  “That was simply the ideals of a naive child,” Hannah said, feeling embarrassed.

  “No. It was a woman who knew her heart and would not accept anything less than what she wanted. What I mean to say is that your actions inspired me.”

  Hannah raised her brows. “Oh? I am pleased to hear I was of help, but I cannot imagine how.”

  “I had long given up on love,” Ellen said with a sigh. “After Patrick’s passing, I found myself withdrawn. However, that night I met you, I took out my manuscript for the first time in years.”

  “That is wonderful,” Hannah exclaimed. “Have you completed it?”

  The woman gave her a single nod. “I have. Therefore, I must thank you for helping me.”

  “Of course,” Hannah said.

  “And your book? I understand it is to be released tomorrow.”

  Hannah felt that now familiar excitement whenever she thought of that finished work. “It is. I still cannot believe that I found someone willing to publish it.”

  Ellen shook her head. “You are a strong woman,” she said. “I wish you all the best in life. Promise me that next season you will come see me?”

  “I will call well before the season begins if you allow me to do so,” Hannah said with a laugh. “We are to return to Wiltshire to my childhood home to celebrate our wedding, and then Cornwall, but our plan is to maintain residence in London.”

  “That is wonderful!” Ellen said.

  A man approached, and Ellen held out a hand to him. “Donald, may I introduce Miss Hannah Lambert.” It did not escape Hannah’s notice the man had not released Ellen’s hand. “Hannah, this is Lord Donald Peters. He and I are courting.” Her eyes lit up as she said this, and Hannah’s went wide.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you,” Lord Peters said. “However, my love, I only popped by to inform you that I will be meeting with a few friends in the other room; in case you came searching for me.” His eyes twinkled as he spoke.

  “Of course,” Ellen replied.

  When Lord Peters kissed Ellen’s cheek and then walked away, Hannah gave her friend a tiny smile. “He seems quite nice.”

  Ellen laughed. “My dear, he is young and handsome, but he is good to me. I am happy to have found love again.”

  After a short conversation, the two parted ways with promises that Hannah would inform Ellen when she returned to London, and John joined her. It was much like when they were at the circus, when time seemed to stand still, as he came to stand before her.

  “Was that Lady Ellen?” he asked. “The one you pointed out earlier?”

  “It was,” Hannah replied. “She is wonderful, and like us, she is in love.” She glanced around the room. “I wonder at times what it must be like for others who are not lucky enough to share what we have.”

  “You know, I have wondered the same,” he replied. “It is a sad notion, but one about which we will never need to worry again.”

  “Indeed,” Hannah replied, her heart flying above the clouds. “We never will.”

  ***

  Hannah stood outside Martin and Sons Publishers as Laurence, Isabel, and John waited in the carriage. The day was warm, as it was this time of year, the sun as bright as her future. Her dream of publishing a novel had finally come to pass, and today was a day of celebration. Many years of frustration, joy, tears, heartache had led to this point, and she regretted none of them.

  With confident steps, she walked to the door and entered. Albina Bragg met her with a welcoming smile.

  “It is so good to see you,” Albina said as she kissed Hannah’s cheek.

  “You are too kind” Hannah replied. “I wish to thank you for all you have done for me. I can never express my gratitude enough.”

  Albina clicked her tongue. “Oh, pish-posh!” she replied. “It is your writing, and your tenacity, that led to this moment. Never forget that.”

  “I will not,” Hannah replied with a smile.

  Albina took her hand, led her to one of the bookshelves, and then took a step back. “You have done well,” she said. “Not many women can say they have been published. I’m sure your book will be read for generations to come.”

  Hannah nodded as she blinked back tears. She reached out and picked up the book and ran her fingers over the embossing.

  “This story comes from the heart,” Hannah said, almost to herself. “With so much love, a dream that was nearly never completed.” She drew in a deep breath and turned to face the woman again. “I must return home for a short time, but I will come see you upon my return.”

  “See that you do,” Albina said. “And give my best to Lord Stanford.”

  “I will.”

  Hannah left the shop but closed her eyes once she was outside. Some women had dreams but were never given the opportunity to experience them. Others might fulfill their dreams but never cherish them. However, as she opened her eyes and saw John emerge from the carriage, she knew how fortunate she truly was.

  For she had fulfilled not one, but two dreams—one of publishing a novel and one of finding love. A love which she never thought existed outside of books. A love she had denied herself from ever experiencing. However, just like a good book, love had found its way to her and brought John to her. Although Hannah still had much to learn in life, she knew in her heart that, what love had brought together could never be torn apart.

  ***

  The joy of having her dream of publishing fulfilled was just the beginning to the wonderments of the day, for when they returned to the townhouse, the vicar was already waiting.

  No guests were in attendance, no feast had been prepared, but Hannah did not care about any of that. They would have plenty of ce
lebrating when they returned to Scarlett Hall, where her family could be with her. And as Hannah looked into the eyes of the man she loved with every ounce of her being, she spoke the vows that brought them together as man and wife.

  The season had come to an end, but a new season was to begin. A season like none she had ever experienced; one she looked forward to enjoying with John.

  “May the blessings continue to enrich your lives,” the vicar stated, and John smiled down at Hannah, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears.

  Then he leaned down and kissed her, and she felt the passion behind it, the wanting that matched her own. When the kiss ended, he whispered, “I am happier than you can imagine. I cannot wait to begin this new life with you. It will be a story we will work on every day together.”

  “We will,” Hannah agreed. “For we will write a story that has a beautiful ending.”

  “I think,” he said so quietly only she could hear, “our story will continue on forever and have no ending.”

  Hannah nodded as her eyes filled with tears. How right he was!

  He took her hand and they turned and faced Isabel and Laurence. It had been her sister who had always looked after her and guided her through life, and it was Isabel who, like Hannah, had sought refuge away from love. And, although Hannah had once thought she could never compare to her sister, she now realized she was very much like Isabel, for her eyes shone with a love that would remain forever, much as Hannah knew her own did, as well.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Scarlett Hall stood tall and proud upon the hills of Wiltshire as the carriage carrying a newly married Hannah pulled up the drive.

  “I must admit,” John said, his eyes wide with awe, “although I have seen Scarlett Hall once before, I still find it a magnificent place.”

  Hannah smiled as she turned to her husband. “It is a place filled with love, and now ours will be added to it.”

  Their plan was to visit Hannah’s childhood home for several days and then head off for their honeymoon in Cornwall. Hannah had never been to that area of England, and she could not wait to see the great open lands and dazzling cliffs she had only read about in books.

  Once they had endured two celebrations of their wedding, they would return to London where they would set up their home together. Well, perhaps endured was a bit harsh, but although Hannah had grown more accustomed to being in the company of others, it did not mean she did not enjoy time alone with the man she loved wholeheartedly.

  The front door of the house opened and her mother exited, followed by Forbes. Hannah was overwhelmed with pleasure at seeing them again, and she had to fight back the urge to rush to embrace them as she and John walked toward them. She was now a married lady, after all.

  “Miss Hannah,” Forbes said with a deep bow, “it is so wonderful to see you.”

  She could not keep up the pretense any longer, and she ran up the stairs and embraced the man who had been so wonderful to her for so long. “It is so good to see you too, Forbes,” she said into his coat. When she released the poor man, she took a step back. “Forbes, I would like to properly introduce my husband, Lord John Stanford, Marquess of Greyhedge.

  Marquess? She thought as she froze in place. She was a marchioness! The thought never occurred to her, for John never made much of the fact he held such a title, and she found the idea a bit overwhelming. She had no idea how to be a marchioness! She would have to speak to Isabel about proper conduct.

  Then she looked at John. No, she would ask John, but for now, she would simply be herself.

  “It is my honor and my pleasure to meet you, my Lord,” Forbes said with another bow.

  “As am I,” John replied as he offered the man his hand. “Any man who would do what you did for my wife, deserves a decent handshake.”

  Forbes shook John’s hand, but Hannah could feel his discomfiture from where she stood. “I only do what is required of me, my Lord.”

  “My daughter has returned.” Hannah could hear the strain in her mother’s voice as she fought back tears. “A woman married to an honorable man. It is so wonderful to see you both.”

  Hannah nodded to John, and he handed her a book wrapped in brown wax paper. “Thank you. If you would like, you may go inside. Forbes will have tea sent up; I will join you in a moment.”

  He took her hand and kissed it before following Forbes into the house, leaving Hannah and her mother alone.

  “Is that what I think it is?” her mother asked, looking at the package. “Is that your book?”

  Hannah nodded as she handed it to her mother. The woman eased back the paper as if what was inside would bite her hand if she removed it too quickly, and Hannah wanted to reach out and rip the paper away. Once the book was revealed, her mother ran her hands over the cover. “The binding is beautiful, and the…” her words trailed off and she brought her gaze up to Hannah. “I thought you chose another title for your book?”

  “Read the first page.”

  Her mother nodded, opened the cover, and read the page.

  “This was my…” Her mother was unable to complete the thought as tears flowed down her face.

  “Your dream,” Hannah said. “A dream you once had and that was unjustly taken from you.”

  “But what of your book?”

  Hannah laughed. “I will finish that story soon enough, but, you see, I finished your novel in order to fulfill that dream we shared.”

  Her mother embraced her, and the two women held each other for several moments.

  “I can never thank you enough,” her mother whispered. “This has brought me happiness I have not felt in many years.”

  “I knew it would, Mother. I have been fortunate in having seen two dreams fulfilled, and I could not think of you not having yours.”

  Her mother placed a hand on the side of Hannah’s face. “You are a good child,” she said. “Or rather a good woman. I forget sometimes, even when you stand before me to show me the beautiful lady you have become.”

  “I will always be your child,” Hannah said. “As all your children will forever be.”

  “I only ever wanted you all to be happy.”

  “And we are, Mother.” Hannah took her mother’s arm and led her toward the front door of Scarlett Hall. “We most certainly are happy.”

  Epilogue

  That night, Hannah waited patiently with Isabel in the drawing room. John and Laurence were in the study, as Hannah’s mother wished to speak to them privately. Although Hannah did not know about what the woman wished to speak, she could not stop a wave of concern from flowing over her. She had expected a giddiness, a sense of comfort at returning home, but the air was filled with anxiety, like a heavy blanket suffocating everything beneath it.

  Isabel seemed to feel it as well, for she sat more rigid than normal, and she, just as Hannah, kept glancing up at every sound. Even the chimes on the clock made them both jump.

  Footsteps in the hallway had them staring at the door, and Annabel entered, followed by their mother, both wearing a strange look of sadness.

  “Remain seated,” their mother ordered before either Hannah or Isabel could stand. Annabel joined Hannah on the couch, and their mother stood before the empty fireplace, her back to them.

  Hannah shot a glance at Isabel. Something was most definitely wrong. She gave Annabel a questioning glare, but the girl wrung her hands in her lap and refused to look up.

  “Mother?” Isabel asked. “What is it?” Their mother’s shoulders shook, and Isabel jumped to her feet. “What is it? What is wrong?”

  When she turned, tears streamed down her face. “Juliet,” she whispered. “My sweet Juliet.”

  Voices of Shadows Past

  Prologue

  Scarlett Hall, January 1806

  Lady Eleanor Lambert held many secrets close to her heart. And although many had caused her great anxiety, there were in fact some which had brought an abundance of joy. Her life thus far had been anything but perfect; in fact, some moments had been
painful beyond belief. However, she took pride in concealing that pain from her children in order to ensure they lived a happy life, a life better than the one she had lived, for they were all in life that truly mattered.

  Some secrets are meant to be told when the time is right while others are meant to be kept for eternity, yet she had been forced to reveal two secrets, one to each of her two eldest daughters. They were told in necessity, as a means to right a wrong, and she had no regret in their telling. Regret that the secrets existed, certainly, but not that they were revealed.

  She picked up the quill and dipped the nib in the ink. Whether it be an entry in her journal or a letter to a loved one, Eleanor found comfort in putting to paper her thoughts and concerns, to release the worries that plagued her, and she was finding the need to do so more often as of late. It was as if she were writing to a close friend without the worry of being rebuked for her thoughts and feelings.

  Scarlett Hall had almost been lost; however, it was Laurence Redbrook, Duke of Ludlow, who agreed to marry her eldest daughter, Isabel, in exchange for his help in that matter. It had been Isabel’s strength that Eleanor leaned on in the worst of times, and her daughter had agreed to marry for convenience. However, much like a flower in spring, Isabel’s love for the man bloomed, and Eleanor was pleased that Isabel and Laurence had come to love one another, for a marriage without love is not much of a marriage at all.

  That crisis was averted only to open yet another. Hannah was readying herself to leave for the season in just a week, and the girl argued against going as fiercely as a woman being asked to throw herself into the mouth of a volcano, as the ancient tribes in South America of which Eleanor read had done.

  Although she had quashed any notion of her daughter missing her debut into society for the second year in a row, Eleanor could not help but worry about how miserable the poor girl truly was. It was her hope that, under Isabel’s guidance, Hannah would put the absurd notions of becoming a spinster to rest. Now, all Eleanor could do was hope for the best.